Vibration analysis of a trimorph plate as a precursor model for smart automotive bodywork

This study investigates the vibration characteristics of a proposed candidate structure for smarter car bodies. The material is conceived as a three-layer laminated structure in the form of a trimorph plate. The vibration response of the plate is investigated for large deflections by considering the effects of geometric nonlinearity. First, the governing equation for the mid-point deflection of the plate is developed based on classical laminate plate theory (CLPT). The governing equation is solved, and a simulation is run for different possible layer-stacking sequences. Comparisons are made between the nonlinear vibration response of this trimorph plate both with and without the effects of the von Kármán geometric nonlinearity. The results show that for the same material properties the different layer-stacking sequences produce different vibration responses, and from there it is concluded that layer-stacking sequencing is a basis for the definition of a suitable material configuration for high performance automotive applications.